BINS autumn No

book chronicles the Horsey story from 1979 up to 2010.

The Cranes’ achievements for every year are noted but, because of frequent failures, some of these annual entries are short (at an early stage John had calculated that, over a tenyear period, 30 Crane eggs were laid on the Estate, yet only four chicks were fledged1). The species’susceptibility to disturbance during breeding and the vulnerability of their eggs and chicks to predation explains the brevity of many entries. Nevertheless, by the time we reach the present day, the species’ success is substantial with at least 13 nesting pairs, numerous solitaries and unconfirmed pairs, making up a regular wintering Broadlands flock of 50 – altogether a real success story. In Part two the history2 and the future of Cranes in the UK are reviewed, along with observations about Crane behaviour and various management issues. Finally, in Part three, penned by the filmmaker Nick Upton, the species’ European context is considered. His descriptions of the birds on migration reminded me of my own Hortobágy experiences where I’ve witnessed the sky filled from horizon to horizon by these monumental birds’ evening return to roost at the area’s fishponds. Like Nick you feel privileged to see and hear them en masse and it has encouraged me to get back over the Suffolk border to see them again next year. All together a very readable, thorough and fascinating read –my only tiny niggle, the book’s lack of an index. But don’t let that stop you purchasing it.

The Norfolk Cranes’ Story is hardback with 65 colour photos, six black & white photos and three colour illustrations, price £30. It is on sale in bookshops and nature reserves, including RSPB Minsmere and RSPB Lakenheath Fen, via www.norfolkcranes.co.uk or directly from the authors. Chris Durdin can be contacted at 36 Thunder Lane, Norwich, NR7 0PX, tel. 01603 300552, email chris@honeyguide.co.uk.

Editor:The last issue’s piece on White-tailed Eagles stirred this interesting information from one of our members:

Clive Collins

Some historical evidence for the White-tailed Eagles’ presence in England

Richard Rafe, in his conversation with Phil Brown about the proposed reintroduction of the White-tailed Eagle to Suffolk, made the interesting point that evidence from place-names suggested that the species was once widespread in England. Let me add a few examples to illustrate this fact.

1 Happily the latest breeding productivity averages prove to be much more positive than this. 2 Editor:Interestingly, paralleling Clive Collins’ article on the ‘earn’ in this issue of the Harrier, the book notes that the name of Cranwich near Brandon, a mere six miles from Lakenheath Fen, translates from Old English as 'the bog where cranes breed’. So perhaps the Cranes' appearance at the Fen was inevitable.

The Old English word for the eagle was “earn”1 , and this occurs as an element in about 25 names for villages and natural features across England. It does not, of course, distinguish between the two species, Golden and Whitetailed; both species would at one time have been common. However, if we reasonably assume that the Golden Eagle would have been confined to upland, open habitats –giving us Arncliffein the Yorkshire Dales and Ingleby Arncliffe on the edge of the North York Moors, for example – this still leaves a good number which could refer to the White-tailed Eagle, since, as Richard points out, the habitat for this species includes wetlands and broad river valleys.

Domesday evidence

If we look at the earliest written records for some place-names, and many of these are from the Domesday Book of 1086, we can see how they have evolved from “earn”. There are Arnoldin the Trent Valley near Nottingham, Ernehale in 1086, and Arnold, Aernhale in 1190, between Hornsea Mere and the Humber Estuary, from earn and halh – a piece of land frequented by eagles; Upper Arleyand Arely Kingsin the Severn Valley, Erneleie in 996 and 1086 respectively, from earn and leah –a woodland clearing where eagles are found. Another Earnley, recorded as Earneleagh as early as the 8th Century, is on Selsey Bill, hardly Golden Eagle territory, but close to Chichester Harbour and the Solent, so perfect habitat for White-tailed Eagle.One from the West Country, Yarnscombe in Devon, Hernescome in the Domesday Book, from earn and cumb – eagle valley, also probably refers to the White-tailed Eagle; it lies between the Torridge and the Taw valleys, and near the cliffs of the North Devon coast.

Suffolk connections?

Unfortunately I haven’t been able to find any eagle names in Suffolk2. We have to be content with Gosbeck, a stream frequented by geese; Yaxley, a woodland clearing where the cuckoo is found, Jacheslea in 1086, from the Old English word gaec for a cuckoo; and Greatand Little Finborough, Fineberga in 1086, woodpecker hill, from the Old English fina, a woodpecker. We can’t even claim Crowfield; it derives from “open land near a corner”. And Magpie Green near Diss must have been named much later because, until the 16th. Century, the usual name for the bird was “haggister”. The modern name is a contraction of “maggot pie”: Macbeth speaks of “magotpies, and choughs, and rooks”.

Editor:I’ve always found these ancient and/or traditional terms fascinating. Mark Cocker in Birds Britannica(pp120-1) includes several more White-tailed Eagle location name examples and one of a bone find at a fifth century archaeological site in Berkshire. And DW Yalden in British Birds #100mentions several Roman era sites in this region where their bones have been found, viz. London, Colchester, Stonea (Cambs) and Dunstable. Although these could be evidence of their ceremonial use rather than of a breeding presence.

1 ‘Earn’ was just one of several terms in use –there was also the Middle English ‘erne’ and ‘erens’ can be found in some Medieval documentation 2 Ed.: Adam Gretton suggests Yarn Hill at Iken might be a possible contender